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Current Course Descriptions |
People, Culture and Society (Soc/Anth 100)
In this introductory course for the sociology/anthropology department we consider the following four questions:
Race and Ethnicity (Soc/Anth 212)
Using sociological and anthropological approaches to race and ethnicity, in this course we first dismiss the idea of race as a biological reality, then explore the ways its social construction affects our social and political behavior. The reasons that ethnic group membership has remained an important factor in social life and the conditions under which such membership forms the basis of social and political mobilization are explored. Key concepts include assimilation, neo-colonialism, pluralism, split labor market, and racial group formation.
Culture, Identity and Politics in Caribbean Society (Soc/Anth 339)
This course looks at the fragmented group of nations on the periphery of the global economy. Once one of the richest areas of the world, the Caribbean's riches depended on the labor of enslaved Africans; the fruits of the plantation economy were enjoyed mainly by European planters. In this course we look at the legacy of that history, in national politics, in class and ethnic divisions, and in people's everyday ways of life.
Social Structure and Popular Culture: Popular Music (Soc/Anth 338)
In this course we analyze the production and distribution, the form and content, and the artists and audiences of popular music internationally. How do social arrangements and technologies of popular music production shape the messages that music conveys? Under what conditions does popular music distract people from the struggles for equality and social justice, lulling them to passivity, and when can it inspire protest, or even transform people's behavior?
Power in Society (Soc/Anth 347)
Political sociology/anthropology takes a rational, empirical, and systematic approach to power in social life, whether in small-scale groups or in the global political economy. What kinds of social power are there, and how are they distributed? Under what conditions do specific types of power emerge, and what consequences do they have for people’s social and economic lives? When do political systems change, and why? How do social and cultural factors influence people’s participation in political action? This semester we will examine a variety of social institutions relevant to politics, including interest groups, political parties, the state and transnational organizations. We will be analyzing processes such as legitimization of authority, social influences on policy formation, political socialization, mobilization and cooptation.
Sociocultural Field Methods (Soc/Anth 350)
One of the core courses for the Sociology/Anthropology major and minor, this course aims to provide students with a working knowledge of the major qualitative methods used in sociology, anthropology and other social sciences. Students will learn about the strengths and limitations of different approaches to obtaining knowledge about the social world. As a class, we undertake a field research project comparing the working lives of law enforcement officers in nearby communities. As individuals, we each develop detailed research plans for future projects. Students may want to use their research designs to apply for funding or for an opportunity to present findings at a conference, and/or to conduct senior research as soc/anth majors.
Which courses are offered in a given semester varies. Check the Denison University Registrar for details.